for middleoftheforce

[jedi_librettist]

Ben picked a seat in the corner of the galley. There was something homey and comforting about watching his brother cook. The last of the tension he'd carried melted away.

Comments

[middleoftheforce]

"So we've got a kid missing parents among the people on board." There's a pause and he sighs. "Oh this is gonna be fun to explain."

[jedi_librettist]

"It happens," Ben points out. "I've seen it before. Just not usually this young."

The little boy still looks, tears in his eyes by now. "Mama?"

[middleoftheforce]

"Any reason they'd take a kid this young?"

He's trying to understand, and completely misses the tears in the eyes.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shakes his head. "They don't just take kids. Not young kids. Someone sells them."

He's about to say something else but gets interrupted by a plaintive wail. The kid plops down on his butter, tears streaming down his face.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo is ready to yell with that revelation, but instead jumps. He stares at the kid like it's something he's never seen before and glances back at Ben.

"...How do we make it stop?"

[jedi_librettist]

Ben shook his head, eyes wide. "I don't know, Bail. I never saw a kid this young without their mom! What would Dad do?!"

He looked back at the crying toddler. He walked over and picked the kid up. At least he could get him off the floor.

[middleoftheforce]

"Panic," was the dry response.

[jedi_librettist]

"Then... What would Mom do?"

Ani buried his face in Ben's neck. It muffled the wails some.

[middleoftheforce]

"Something like what you're doing?" It had been a long while since they had been around children; Solo couldn't really think what their Mother would do. Granted it was possible the wails were stunting his thought some.

[jedi_librettist]

Ben let out a quiet breath. At least he was doing something right. He winced a bit at how close the wailing was to his ears.

The little one wasn't shielding at all. Ben frowned at the image of a red-haired woman. She looked vaguely familiar.

[middleoftheforce]

Solo frowned at the image as well. She ... did not look familiar.

[jedi_librettist]

The toddler gradually stopped wailing, his crying turning to hiccup-like sobs. He rubbed his eyes before tucking his arms between his body and Ben's chest.

Ben breathed a sigh of relief. "What now? Putting him down will probably set him off again. Do I really need to change my shirt?"

[middleoftheforce]

Solo considered it. Technically they could get away with just him speaking to the officials...

"No, you're good." He pulled at his own, seeing a lot of stains that... would not help their case. "I'm going to have to."

[jedi_librettist]

Ben gave a relieved smile. Even without the risk of upsetting Ani, he didn't want to deal with changing his shirt now. He didn't want anyone to see what he looked like under it.

"I guess you should go ahead, then. I'm sure everyone's waiting to get on with their lives."

[middleoftheforce]

Solo nodded but gave one last frown before moving off. Something about that kid seem too familiar, but he couldn't place it at all.